Final answer:
Sonnet VII by Francesco Petrarch is written in Italian. Petrarch's sonnets are known for their strict abbaabba octave structure, followed by a flexible sestet, and are a critical part of Italian literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sonnet VII by Francesco Petrarch is written in Italian. Petrarch, a fourteenth-century Tuscan poet, is renowned for crafting his sonnets in Italian, often using an octave with the rhyme scheme abbaabba, followed by a sestet which can vary in its rhyme scheme. These sonnets adhere to strict poetic structures and are known for their rich language and emotional depth. Petrarch's influence on poetry is significant, and his sonnets remain a central part of the study of Italian literature and the history of poetry.
It is important to note that while Petrarch did spend time in various places such as Avignon, Parma, Verona, Rome, and Venice, which he called mundus alter or "another world," his sonnets remained true to his Italian roots. This discipline in form and linguistic choice is evident in Sonnet VII and his broader body of work, which has set a standard for later poetic forms, including those by Shakespeare and other poets across Europe.